I was evacuated to the village at the beginning of the war with
my mother, my three sisters and a young girl called Winnie who lived
with us. I was three years old when I arrived, and eight when I left.
Throughout my life - I'm now 71 - my early childhood spent in Swanland
during the war years has had a profound influence on me and I still
remember many of the people who befriended us - and those who didn't!
During a recent visit, I met Paddy Crawford. It was absolutely wonderful
to be able to chat with him; I don't remember Paddy, as he was in
the army, but I remember his dad very well. Paddy took me up the lane
to meet Caroline and I remember Caroline's mother, Eileen, as a young
girl (and her dog, Spot Wilson).
I became a professional writer, and several of my short stories were
based on my life in Swanland. One of my books, "Paper Children"
was partly set in Swanland, too. I have the First and Second Volumes
of the History of Swanland (Wonderful stuff)! and actually met Derek
(Brooks) on a visit a few years ago, who I remember as a child. |
You must be wondering why I'm writing all this?. I'd love to
try to meet up with some of my long-ago friends, neighbours and
acquaintances. Nearly all the adults are now gone, of course, but
there may be some of the children (now as old or older than me)
who may remember our family. We lived at 2, Priory Cottages, Crowther
Lane (now Dale Road). My family name was LEVINSON and my sisters
were Jean (who died when she was 47), Deirdre, and Pearl (also known
as Pat).
Winnie (Edwards) joined the ATS but came to Swanland when on leave.
She had a little half-sister, Beatrice Tagg, who was billetted with
Mrs.Young and her daughter, Miss Young. My mother was able to stay
in Swanland with us as I was considered an infant, but my father,
who had only recently received his British Nationality, lived in
Hull where he was a fire warden and a Jewish chaplain. The Hull
Hebrew School was evacuated to Swanland, and as Jean and Deirdre
went to that school before the war, that's why we arrived in Swanland.
We attended Swanland Council School, although Jean and Deirdre went
to Kingston High School in Hull, soon afterwards. Our teachers were
Mrs. Hall, Miss Winter, Miss Newmarch and Miss Bailey.
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